Harrow support for reclaimer



March 15, 1966 ERHARDT 3,240,362

HARROW SUPPORT FOR REGLAIMER Filed July 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A e/son G. [Mara f ATTORNEY March 15, 1966 ERHARDT 3,240,362

HARROW SUPPORI FOR RECLAIMER Filed July 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR /Ve/50n G fr/wm f BY fimu f ATTORNEY March 15, 1966 N. s. ERHARDT 3,240,362

HARROW SUPPORT FOR RECLAIMER Filed July 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 am w FIG. 5.

raj-U FIG. 4.

INVENTOR Ne/son G. BY [/Ad/ ATTORNEY March 15, 1966 N. G. ERHARDT 3,240,362

HARROW SUPPORT FOR RECLAIMER Filed July 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

i V\ 1 A I 16 w N 2' U.

I") :L ,H

INVENTOR Ive/500 G. [r/vara/f ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,240,362 HARROW SUPPORT FOR RECLAIMER Nelson G. Erhardt, Wayne, N.J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Hewitt Robins, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 24, 1962, Ser. No. 212,031 3 Claims. (Cl. 214-) The present invention pertains to apparatus for removing granular materials from a storage pile and to a bucket wheel reclaiming machine equipped with a harrow structure for engaging an end face of the pile generally along the angle of repose of the material and the invention more particularly relates to improvements in means sup porting the harrow structure on the reclaimer so that the position thereof may be adjusted with respect to the face of the pile and with respect to the path of movement of the buckets of the reclaimer.

It has been an established practice to store granular materials such as ore, coal and the like in a layered bed having the form of an elongated pile. The granular material is desirably added to the pile by methods which provide for blending the material and as the pile develops particles roll and tumble and assume an angle of repose which determines the side and the end faces of the pile. In reclaiming such stored granular material from the pile it is desirable to blend the material as much as possible during the recovery and removal of the granular material. There are various types of equipment for recovering the material from the pile and a bucket wheel type reclaiming machine has been employed for this purpose and the buckets thereof cut across an end face of the pile and any granular material which may have segregated when the bed was formed is regrouped by the reclaimer in recovering material from the pile. It is also known to provide means for raking the face of the pile to agitate the material and maintain it at a proper angle of repose and to control the flow down the face of the pile. The raking means serves the purpose of further blending of the granular material by dislodging any horizontally disposed layers. The harrow structure has in thepast been supported by the carriage of the bucket wheel reclaimer for limited movement relative to the path of movement of the buckets.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in the support of the harrow structure on the carriage of a bucket wheel reclaiming machine so that the slope of the pile may be altered by changing the angular position of the harrow structure relative to the horizontal with the support means so constructed and arranged that the relationship of the rake structure with respect to the path of movement of the buckets may be maintained while the slope of the pile is adjusted and with the supporting mechanism so constructed that the slope of the pile may be maintained while the relationship of the lower end of the harrow structure is adjusted in relation to the path of movement of the buckets of the reclaimer.

Other objects and features of the invention will be appreciated and become apparent particularly to those skilled in the art as the present disclosure proceeds and upon consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a bucket wheel type reclaimer including a harrow or raking mechanism with supporting means therefor exhibiting the invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

4, 3,240,352 Patented Mar. 15, 1966 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the harrow support frame.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the harrow support frame diagrammatically illustrating the manner in which the positions of the harrow may be adjusted.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the winch and cable arrangement connected to the upper end portion of the harrow structure.

FIG. 6 is a skeleton plan view of the framework of the harrow structure.

The invention is directed to means supporting the barrow structure on the reclaimer so as to be adjustable in relation to a reclaimer which may be of any suitable type and the support means for the harrow is disclosed in relation to a bucket wheel type reclaimer. The reclaimer includes a main frame 10 which is supported adjacent its ends by wheels 11 which roll on rails 12 extending longitudinally of the elongated storage pile 14. The rails 12 are supported adjacent the edges of the storage pile 14 of layered material which is to be reclaimed. A material handling unit 15 is mounted on the frame 10 for movements longitudinally thereof and transversely of the pile 14 so that the unit 15 may move back and forth across the end face 16 (FIG. 2) of the pile of material. A plurality of handling units may be arranged on the main frame 10 for movements lengthwise thereof and a harrow structure may be mounted on each material handling unit.

The main frame '10 may be of inverted triangular shape in section having two horizontally spaced upper side members 17 and a lower member 18 all extending lengthwise of the main frame and united by suitable bracing members 19. The upper side members support rails 21 on which the material handling unit 15 rolls inmoving lengthwise of the main frame 10 and transversely of the pile. The material handling unit includes a carriage 22 which may be of any desired construction. Suitable power transmission means is provided for moving the material handling unit longitudinally of the main frame 10. The mechanism by which the material is reclaimed at the lower portion of the end face 16 of the pile includes a bucket wheel 24 rotatably mounted on the carriage 22. The bucket wheel embraces the main frame 10 and a portion of the carriage 22. Any suitable means may be provided for supporting the bucket Wheel for rotation about a horizontal axis which is in general aligned with the elongated main frame '10 and any suitable means may be provided for driving the wheel and moving the buckets 26 in the path of movement as indicated by the arrow27 in FIG. 2. i

The material scooped up by the buckets 26 is raised to the upper arc in the path of movement of the wheel and the material is then discharged from each bucket onto a suitable conveyor 28 mounted on the main frame 10 and extending longitudinally thereof and through the open central area of the wheel 24. The conveyor 28 serves to transport the material to one end or the other of the main frame 10. The buckets 26 discharge their loads into the open flared mouth of the funnel-shaped receiver 29 mounted on the carriage 22. The open lower end of the funnel-shaped receiver is disposed to discharge the granular material onto the upper course of the conveyor 28.

The carriage 22 is movable lengthwise of the main frame 10 and transversely of the length of the elongated pile 14 of material. The bucket wheel 24 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 27 so as to remove material from the end face in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 2. The main frame 10 is advanced on the rails 12 while the bucket wheel continues to rotate and is moved transversely of the pile. As the buckets 26 dig in they rewhich were formed in storing the material.

move a section containing a portion of various layers The layers may vary in chemical analysis and in size of the particles so that the buckets blend some material from one layer with some material from another layer. The granular material removed by the buckets 26 alters the lower portion of the end face 16 of the pile and a cavity 31 is formed therein across the end face which is below a projection of the plane of the face 16 formed by the angle of repose of the granular material.

A harrow structure has been employed in the past which has its lower end portion disposed adjacent the path of movement of the buckets to prevent cascading of the material into the presence of the wheel and the harrow structure has been employed to move with the reclaimer along the end face of the pile so as to agitate the material and cause the particles to roll to the foot of the pile. The harrow structure has in the past been supported for limited movement with respect to the face of the pile and in relation to the reclaimer.

The harrow structure shown generally at 33 and the support therefor is such as to provide for a plurality of adjustments of the harrow structure with respect to the carriage 22 to make possible changes in the face of the pile and to adjust the lower end of the harrow structure with respect to the path of movement of the buckets 26 of the reclaimer. The harrow structure 33 may be of any desired construction and it is of such length that the upper end thereof will be in position to engage the upper part of the end face 16 of the pile. The lower end of the harrow structure is of a generally bifurcated shape so as to span the bucket wheel 24 as shown in FIG. 6.

The support for the harrow structure includes a harrow support frame 36 which comprises two generally upright posts 37 and two generally horizontal arms 3'8. The posts 37 and the arms 38 are rigidly secured to each other at 39 and these portions of the frame are attached to the carriage 22 by means of horizontally disposed pivot pins 41 (FIG. 2). A transverse beam 42 joins the upper ends of the posts 37- and diagonal braces extend from the intermediate portion of the beam 42 to the inner ends of the arms 38. A rigid tie member 44 (FIG. 6) connects the forward ends of the arms. Angularly disposed braces 43 extend froman intermediate portion of the tie member 44 to the rear ends of the arms 38. Tension members 46 connect the upper end of each post 37 to the forward end of the associated arm 38. Brackets 47 carried by the free end of the frame '36 and by the member 44 provide means for pivotal'ly attaching the frame to the intermediate portion of the harrow structure 33.

A cable 51 is attached to each upright post 37 of the harrow support frame 36 and these extend therefrom and are secured to the carriage 22 'by means of adjustable jacks 52 and levers 53. The harrow structure is supported at the free end of the harrow support frame 36 so that there is a tendency for the frame 36 to swing downwardly about its pivots 41 and in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2. The cables 51 and the adjustments thereof permit the forward end of the harrow support frame 36 to be raised and lowered about an are as indicated at 50 in FIG. 4 and the posts 37 swing in directions of the are 55. The intermediate portion of the harrow structure 33 thus may be shifted in substantially vertical directions along the are 50.

A bail 54 is secured to the harrow structure 33 near the upper end thereof. The bail 54 is pivotally connected to the harrow structure by pins which extend horizontally through rackets 56 on the bail. A winch mechanism is provided with a power driven drum 58 which is mounted on the carriage 22. One cable 61 wound on the drum 58 (FIG. extends over a pulley 62 mounted for rotation on the transverse beam 42. This cable extends around a sheave 63 carried by an equalizer 64 pivotally ur d to the in rmedia p r ion f the bail 54- The cable 61 is trained about another pulley 66 mounted for rotation on the bail 54. The cable 61 then extends around a sheave 67 mounted at the end of the transverse beam 42. The cable 61 then extends to the bail 54 and is secured thereto. A similar cable 69 wound 1n a reversed relationship on the drum 58 extends over a pulley 71 mounted on the transverse beam 42. This cable 69 is trained about a pulley 72 mounted for rotation at the other end of the equalizer 64. The cable 69 extends around a pulley 73 mounted on the other end of the ball 54. The cable 69 is trained about a pulley 74 at the other end of the transverse beam 42 and the cable extends therefrom and is anchored to the bail 54.

When the drum 58 is rotated in one direction pulling forces are applied to the upper end of the harrow structure 33 so that the harrow structure tends to rotate in a clockwise direction about the pivot pins 81 (FIG. 4). Such movement will shift the lower end of the harrow structure away from the path of movement of the buckets 26 on the reclaimer wheel. This position of the harrow structure is indicated at X in FIG. 4. When the drum is rotated in the opposite direction the harrow structure as a consequence of its weight tends to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the pivot pins 81. This position is indicated at Z in FIG. 4. The pivot pins 81 about which the harrow structure pivots may be raised or lowered by adjustments in the effective lengths of the cables 51.

The harrow structure 33 is supported on and moves with the carriage 22 as it moves longitudinally of the main frame 10 and transversely of the pile. The :harrow structure may have any suitable type teeth and the structure of the harrow itself may take various forms. The harrow structure rakes the face 16 of the pile to dislodge particles for movement downward along the face of the pile. This serves the purpose of preventing the pile from collapsing onto the bucket wheel as a consequence of a cavity such as 31 created by the bucket wheel. The harrow structure also promotes blending in dislodging material from one layer for movement down the face to integrate with particles from other layers. This serves to blend the different size particles and particles Of different compositions.

The harrow support frame 36 is arranged for swinging movement with respect to the carriage 22 about the pivots 41. The harrow structure can thus be bodily raised by applying pullying force to the cables 51. The inclination of the harrow structure may nevertheless be maintained by rotation of the drum 58 so that the effective length of the cables 61 and 69 are lengthened. Thus the inclination of the harrow structure may be maintained while the position of the lower end of the. harrow structure is changed in relation to the path of movement of the buckets of the bucket wheel 24. It is possible to maintain the harrow structure in one relationship with respect to the bucket wheel and the inclination of the harrow structure may be altered by manipulation of the drum 58 to change the slope of the pile.

While the invention has been described with reference to one type of reclaiming mechanism and with regard to one combination of the face providing for attachment of the position of the harrow structure it will be appreciated that changes may be made in components and elements of the apparatus together wtih operations in the overall organization. Such modifications and others may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a reclaiming machine comprising a digging device: disposed in a vertical plane and movable forwardly to-- wards and horizontally along the base of the face of a; pile of loosely piled material and wherein there is pro-. vided a harrow extending forwardly and upwardly with respect to the; digging device for the purpose of raking and controlling the slope of loosely piled material, which harrow has a lower portion in operative association with said digging device at a point normally positioned adjacent the base of a pile of material to be reclaimed, the improvement wherein:

(a) a frame with said digging device is pivotally mounted on said machine,

(b) said frame has a first portion positioned upwardly of the point of pivotal mounting of said frame,

(c) said frame has a second portion positioned forwardly of the latter point and forwardly of said first portion,

(d) said harrow is pivotally connected to said second portion,

(e) said harrow extends downwardly and upwardly from said second portion with its lower portion in working relationship with said digging device,

(f) there is means connected to said first portion for raising and lowering the position of said second portion relative said machine to adjust the location of the point of pivotal connection of said harrow to said frame relative said machine and to adjust the relationship of said lower portion of said harrow relative said digging device,

(g) and there is means connected to said harrow at a point spaced from said second portion for efiecting pivotal movement of said harrow relative said second portion to adjust the angle of said harrow relative a horizontal plane extending through said second portion.

2. The improvement of claim 1, including:

(a) said means for effecting pivotal movement of said harrow relative said second portion comprises a winch and a cable,

(b) said cable extends between said frame and said harrow,

(c) said cable extends over a pulley attached to said frame at approxmiately said first portion, whereby the change of angle of said harrow relative said horizontal plane upon adjustment of said position of said second portion relative said machine is minimized.

3. The improvent of claim 1, including:

(a) said frame comprising a pair of upright members extending to said first portion,

(b) and a pair of arms extending to said second portion from said point of pivotal mounting of said frame, means fixedly interconnecting said members and said arms, means interconnecting said upright members to each other, and means interconnecting said arms to each other to form a rigid frame,

(c) the means connected to said harrow extending between said frame and said harrow and being adjustable in length to effect pivotal movement of said harrow relative said second portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,316,410 9/1919 Barnes 214- 1,829,923 11/1931 Cole 21410 X 2,685,375 8/1954 Huntzinger 21416 3,069,027 12/ 1962 Dischinger 214-l0 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS TEMIN, HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examiners. 

1. IN A RECLAIMING MACHINE COMPRISING A DIGGING DEVICE DISPOSED IN A VERTICAL PLANE AND MOVABLE FORWARDLY TO WARDS AND HORIZONTALLY ALONG THE BASE OF THE FACE OF A PILE OF LOOSELY PILED MATERIAL AND WHEREIN THERE IS PROVIDED A HARROW EXTENDING FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DIGGING DEVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAKING AND CONTROLLING THE SLOPE OF LOOSELY PILED MATERIAL, WHICH HARROW HAS A LOWER PORTION IN OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION WITH SAID DIGGING DEVICE AT A POINT NORMALLY POSITIONED ADJACENT THE BASE OF A PILE OF MATERIAL TO BE RECLAIMED, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN: (A) A FRAME WITH SAID DIGGING DEVICE IS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID MACHINE, (B) SAID FRAME HAS A FIRST PORTION POSITIONED UPWARDLY OF THE POINT OF PIVOTAL MOUNTING OF SAID FRAME (C) SAID FRAME HAS A SECOND PORTION POSITIONED FORWARDLY OF THE LATTER POINT AND FORWARDLY OF SAID FIRST PORTION, (D) SAID HARROW IS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND PORTION, (E) SAID HARROW EXTENDS DOWNWARDLY AND UPWARDLY FROM SAID SECOND PORTION WITH ITS LOWER PORTION IN WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID DIGGING DEVICE, (F) THERE IS MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST PORTION FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE POSITION OF SAID SECOND PORTION RELATIVE SAID MACHINE TO ADJUST THE LOCATION OF THE POINT OF PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID HARROW TO SAID FRAME RELATIVE SAID MACHINE AND TO ADJUST THE RELATIONSHIP OF SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID HARROW RELATIVE SAID DIGGING DEVICE, (G) AND THERE IS MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID HARROW AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID SECOND PORTION FOR EFFECTING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID HARROW RELATIVE SAID SECOND PORTION TO ADJUST THE ANGLE OF SAID HARROW RELATIVE A HORIZONTAL PLANE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SECOND PORTION. 